Cambodian labour exodus from Thailand continues today

[Thai at Heart]

Now maybe everyone has to start paying 300

[MK1]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

Edited June 15, 2014 by MK1

[Thai at Heart]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

The lawless employment of immigrants is a blight on Thailand. That said, this will have a massive effect on some businesses.

[Lite Beer]

More than 110,000 Cambodian migrants flee Thailand: official

PHNOM PENH, June 15, 2014 (AFP) - More than 110,000 Cambodians have fled Thailand to return home in the past week, an official said Sunday, amid fears of a crackdown on migrant workers after last month's military takeover.

Labourers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar play a key role in Thai industries such as seafood, agriculture and construction, but they often lack official work permits.

On Wednesday Thailand's military regime, which seized power in a coup on May 22, threatened to arrest and deport all illegal foreign workers.

"They're returning en masse like a dam collapsing. They've never come en masse like this before in our history," Kor Sam Saroeut, governor of northwestern Banteay Meanchey province where the main Cambodian-Thai border crossing is located, told AFP by telephone.

More than 110,000 Cambodian migrants had returned from Thailand in the last week as of Sunday morning, many of them transported to the border by the Thai military, he said.

"They said they are scared of being arrested or shot if they run when Thai authorities check their houses," Saroeut added. "Most of them went to work in Thailand without a work permit."

Cambodian authorities have arranged nearly 300 cars and military trucks to transport workers from the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border checkpoint to their homes.

Thai military officials were not immediately available for comment on the mass exodus.

Soum Chankea, a coordinator for Cambodian rights group ADHOC who has met many workers at the border, said the number of migrants returning home was growing each day.

"They keep coming, more and more. Thousands more have arrived in Poipet this morning," he told AFP by telephone.

Six Cambodian workers and a Thai driver transporting them to the border province of Sa Kaeo died in an accident early Sunday morning, said Thai police official Sommart Meungmuti.

The accident, which left another 12 people injured, is suspected to have been caused by a tyre explosion, he added.

Thailand is usually home to more than two million migrant workers, according to activists.
In the past the authorities turned a blind eye to the presence of illegal labourers because they were needed when the economy was booming.

But now Thailand is on the verge of recession after the economy contracted 2.1 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of 2014.

The army has floated the idea of creating special economic zones in border areas to better manage the movement of migrant workers, although so far details of the plan remain vague.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-15

[JesseFrank]

More than 110,000 Cambodian migrants flee Thailand: official

Now who's gonna build all those condo's in Bangkok with only Thais left.

[EyesWideOpen]

Well I guess that is the end of the condo industry.......Thank god, as they are

rapidly being overbuilt... Upside is I guess less slavery on the Thai fishing boats?

[Lupatria]

Not very smart. Thailand will shut down without laborers. No way are the millions of loafing Thais, lying on their hammocks going to replace this lot.

…and how do they think to solve the problem if the genius labor minister (Mr. ”I fix it in 90 days thanks to ear medicine”) is on a long inactive post?

[cmiuc]

they are afraid they will re-impose the curfew again.... this going to bed before the chickens is tiring for these migrants who like working at night... besides their country with ASEAN will be improving... Thailand is going to be the Greece of ASEAN... so get out while the gettin's good...as they are doing.

[BSJ]

"Labourers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar play a key role in Thai industries such as seafood, agriculture and construction, but they often lack official work permits.

On Wednesday Thailand's military regime, which seized power in a coup on May 22, threatened to arrest and deport all illegal foreign workers."

Well that makes it a bit clearer for me! There not after the farang with legit papers they want to be done with the criminals that are here illegally.

[Traveller45]

Have these Cambodian and Myanmar workers been TOLD to leave? Or are they just leaving because of some mass hysteria thinking that evil might befall them if they stay? That is an important question. In the first case, that would have been the first serious blunder in an otherwise quite intelligent handling of things by the current military junta. I consider that unlikely. Of course there is a third option. They might have been TOLD to leave, not by the Government, but by their employers who fear the consequences and fines if they are found out AND/OR want to exercise pressure on the Junta to leave and for the lovely old corrupt leaders to return. Even so, the Government SHOULD have pronounced an amnesty / regularisation measure that protects both the employers and the employees, provided of course that they now come forward and ask for a regular permit, within a certain deadline, and maybe pay a nominal fine (the employers)

[Dogmatix]

Shades of the mass expulsion of Cambodians at Preah Vihear in 1979. http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/preah-vihear-mountain-undeniable-fact

[spermwhale]

What's missing from this story -- THE MOST IMPORTANT PART -- is WHY?

I think the junta is pressuring them.

[spermwhale]

NEVERMIND, i just saw post #34

[tullynagardy]

Thai economy does need these workers , but will be better for all (especially the workers) if they are registered

Those most at risk for abuse are undocumented workers, who are afraid to seek help if being abused

If factories need these workers let them register them...

How many of you out there would want to work without work permit?

Why should these migrant workers be forced to do so?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree with you and there were moves to coordinate with neighborough countries and get more people legally registered prior to the coup. If they want to do something about the problem which is actually in the interests of the migrants themselves, there's a process for that. And it takes time. Leaving thousands of people stranded at the border after forcibly removing them from their homes (in at least some cases) with little or no money is no sort of solution at all.

No one has been forcibly removed from their homes, they have got in a panic because of unfounded rumor., spread no doubt by someone with an agenda of disruption.

Rumor just like that post of yours.

Just because some rights organization picks up on the rumor, as in 'heres something sensationational we can get some publicity from' doesn't make it true.

You post some sensible comment but this time you are way out of line.

Genuinely quite sad that people like yourself are unable to comprehend that at least some of the coup makers actions are damaging. In your eyes you follow a team, team yellow, and your role is simply to rebuff to team red at all costs, regardless of what is happening.

Its gutter analysis and worthless.

I think few here understand just how delicate Thailands unskilled labour markets of food processing etc are. Thailand already lost its textiles industry to Vietnam and these are sure to follow.

Ironically the junta seems intent on tough, populist policies to the detriment of the nation. Reminds me of a recent party in government headed by someone in exile in many ways.

[PlanetX]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

The sky won't fall in for you, but it will for them.

The bipolar nature of Thai policies is really harmful to many.

I understand blaming the Westerner for not getting a proper visa, but the process for these workers is very convoluted, confusing, and expensive.

They are just trying to make a few dollars to send home.

Once again the very poor suffer at the hands of the very rich.

[DrTuner]

The Shins are soon going to have a hard time finding maids & drivers.

[khunken]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

The lawless employment of immigrants is a blight on Thailand. That said, this will have a massive effect on some businesses.

Any business that was employing illegal immigrants deserves a 'massive effect'.

The virtual slavery in the fishing industry has been a blight on Thailand for years. Construction companies employing illegals are just using them to avoid paying minimum wages. There are also various other areas (e.g. maids) where they are treated as virtual slaves.

It's about time this was cleaned up and if it is applied to similarly employed Farangs too - good.

[louse1953]

Not very smart. Thailand will shut down without laborers. No way are the millions of loafing Thais, lying on their hammocks going to replace this lot.

Maybe the Thai employers will have to pay a living wage to Thai people, instead of slave wages to illegal workers.

[Local Drunk]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

The lawless employment of immigrants is a blight on Thailand. That said, this will have a massive effect on some businesses.

Do you mean the Russians?

[ezzra]

By the look of things, soon, Thai people will actually work and do all those type of work

they thumb their noses at for a long time...

[MobileContent]

Cambodians have for a long time being a target in Thailand. Most manufacturers or real estate developers don't give a damn about giving a Khmer a work permit. Gen Prayuth announced to track down on illegal workers and my FIL had to go of his workers as well from Myanmar and Laos. Now he is stukc with the drunk Isaan guys that some time show up at work and sometime just sleep during day time.

For the Thai economy this will have a ripple effect on the long-term.

I understand that Gen Prayuth means business and is straight forward but after 6 month ant-government protest it destroyed already the tourism industry in Bangkok but now it moves over to the manufacturing and construction industry.

For fairness it would be time to not go after the ASEAN workers from Indochina but also after the thousands of farangs that are illegal in Thailand anf have been coming in and out of Thailand on edu and tourist visas.

Come on Gen Prayuth, clean up the complete Thailand.

If a European stays here on 120 days Tourist visa, we know he is an illegal immigrant and he is not here for the temples. Do like the Europeans like to do: 6 months maximum and then out for 6 months. I have noting against None Immigrant visa holders. Our company brings over 350,000 tourists from Europe to Thailand per year and they all leave after 14-30 days.

Edited June 15, 2014 by MobileContent

[Scottish Gary]

The sad thing is without the Cambo/Burmese laborers the farang retirement homes in in Hua Hin which have yet to be built even although they have been paid for will now just be a distant dream for the would be occupiers......Distant as in heaven to earth because that where most of them will be viewing their new homes from

[louse1953]

They are just throwing a tantrum and going home because the Junta didn't give them free movie tickets like they are doing for Thais to win them over.

Your only having a tanty cos the Saints got flogged again.

[DrTuner]

For fairness it would be time to not go after the ASEAN workers from Indochina but also after the thousands of farangs that are illegal in Thailand anf have been coming in and out of Thailand on edu and tourist visas.

110k illegal Cambodians leave, without Prayuth having to do much more than open his mouth, versus hunting down a small group of farangs one by one .. his ROI is on the spot.

[MobileContent]

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The Shins are soon going to have a hard time finding maids & drivers.

Nope - had a drink with a maid of the former PM on Sukhumvit just last week. They are all Thai's in their late 40's from Isaan.

[JesseFrank]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

The lawless employment of immigrants is a blight on Thailand. That said, this will have a massive effect on some businesses.

Any business that was employing illegal immigrants deserves a 'massive effect'.

The virtual slavery in the fishing industry has been a blight on Thailand for years. Construction companies employing illegals are just using them to avoid paying minimum wages. There are also various other areas (e.g. maids) where they are treated as virtual slaves.

It's about time this was cleaned up and if it is applied to similarly employed Farangs too - good.

You will understand that the only one who is the "victim" of the massive effect will be the man in the street, as he will be the one that pays the piper.

[Local Drunk]

Not very smart. Thailand will shut down without laborers. No way are the millions of loafing Thais, lying on their hammocks going to replace this lot.

Maybe the Thai employers will have to pay a living wage to Thai people, instead of slave wages to illegal workers.

What is a living wage? You are only ever going to earn what someone else is willing to pay you for you labour or genius etc... Minimum wages or living wages as you put it are as effective as the rice scheme.

They simply don't work.

[khunken]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

The lawless employment of immigrants is a blight on Thailand. That said, this will have a massive effect on some businesses.

Any business that was employing illegal immigrants deserves a 'massive effect'.

The virtual slavery in the fishing industry has been a blight on Thailand for years. Construction companies employing illegals are just using them to avoid paying minimum wages. There are also various other areas (e.g. maids) where they are treated as virtual slaves.

It's about time this was cleaned up and if it is applied to similarly employed Farangs too - good.

You will understand that the only one who is the "victim" of the massive effect will be the man in the street, as he will be the one that pays the piper.

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion. The real victims are those who are conned (sometimes forcibly) by mafia-style 'job agencies' into virtual slavery.

If the fish and buildings become a bit more expensive - so what? It means that the prices are artificially low because of workers not being paid a fair wage.

[bigbamboo]

Why would they want to leave?? Can't they see we are all so happy??

These people would rather go back to Hun Sen and a military junta in Myanmar than stay in Thailand. It speaks volumes.

Now farang, tell me about your struggles under democracy in Pattaya, Phuket, Sukhumvit, Hua Hin...who will build your condos and clean your floors now??

Maybe they'll allow farang to work now.

[fab4]

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

Did these "illegal immigrants" just suddenly decide to come and work in Thailand en masse on July 3rd 2011, or would you accept that they may have been coming to Thailand and working for some time before? I know it's almost compulsory on this forum to blame everything on the PTP or Thaksin, but give it a rest, will you.